UN Security Council Calls Abkhaz Side to Discuss ‘Boden Document’

(Tbilisi, January 31, 2003. Civil Georgia) – In its resolution on Abkhazia adopted on January 30 the UN Security Council reiterated its support for the document on “Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competences between Tbilisi and Sukhumi,” the UN News Centre reports.

At the same time, the 15-nation body regretted “the lack of progress on the initiation of political status negotiations and deeply regretted the repeated refusal of the Abkhaz side to agree to a discussion on the substance of the document”.

It again strongly urged the Abkhaz side to receive the document and its transmittal letter, and urged both parties to give them full and open consideration.

The document, which is hailed by the Georgian authorities, considers wider autonomy for the breakaway Abkhazia within the Georgian state. The document is elaborated by the UN Secretary General’s former representative in Georgia Deter Boden and is known as ‘Boden Document.’

The Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) for an additional six months, until 31 July.

The Council also decided to further review the mandate of the Mission unless a decision on the presence of the Collective Peacekeeping Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) peacekeeping force is taken by 15 February.

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